Etymograph

English

alms

Alms comes from Ancient Greek ἐλεέω ‘to have mercy’, and goes back to ἔλεος.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεοςéleos‘mercy’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέωeleéō‘to have mercy’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē
  4. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEeleēmosyna
  5. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alemosynareconstructed
  6. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*alemōsināreconstructed
  7. Old Englishc. 450–1150ælmesse
  8. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500almes
  9. Englishtodayalms

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεοςéleos‘mercy’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέωeleéō‘to have mercy’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē
  4. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEeleēmosyna
  5. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alemosynareconstructed
  6. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*alemōsināreconstructed
  7. Old Englishc. 450–1150ælmesse
  8. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500almes
  9. Englishtodayalms

Linked words

through Ancient Greek ἐλεέω ‘to have mercy’

pantaloons, 5 more

Today it means

noun Something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἔλεος / alms

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